West Orange High School students protest N.J. school funding cuts

Halley Bondy/For the Star LedgerStudents protest funding cuts at West Orange High School today.WEST ORANGE — About 200 West Orange High School students gathered on the school football field stands this morning, taking part in a statewide walkout in protest of Gov. Chris Christie's school budget cuts.

The students left their first and second period classes to chant and sing for their teachers' jobs and school extracurricular programs.

Halley Bondy/For the Star LedgerA student at the West Orange High School protest comments on Gov. Chris Christie's remark that teachers were using students as "drug mules" to carry information.
"This is not our mistake and we will not suffer for it," said senior Raul Ausa to the crowd in an impassioned speech. "Enough cuts. Enough is enough."

West Orange's budget, which was slated to lay off 84 teachers, was voted down on April 20. Students fear that more cuts will be made in staff, arts and athletics.

"My cousins coming into this school won't have athletics," said freshman Azriel Gordon at the walkout. "It's not fair that we have to suffer."

The protest's organizers heard about a statewide walkout through Facebook, said senior Kathryn Schaub, who organized the West Orange event with school administrators.

"The administration was not meeting with us to support us. They met with us to make sure this was a safe event," Schaub said.

Police were on hand to supervise the protest, and students were expected to go back inside by 9:15 a.m, Schaub said.

Students also walked out to protest at Montclair High School.

KYW-TV in Philadelphia reported hundreds of students today have walked out of Rancocas Valley High School in Burlington County.-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Roselle Park students protest budget cutsRoselle Park High School students protest school budget cuts. The students spent the morning on the school's lawn participating in some of the activities, such as music and art, that may be eliminated by budget cuts.

Newark students walk out of school, take City Hall

Newark students walk out of school, take City HallNewark high school students from all over the city walk out of class and converge on City Hall, chanting "We want Booker" and "Save our schools" in protest of NJ Gov. Chris Christie's proposed budget cuts for public schools.